Geographically close with three-hour flights from Miami, less than seven hours from Los Angeles, and five from New York. Panama remains on Eastern Standard Time year-round.

Is the transportation hub for Central and Latin America with 87 direct flights to 37 countries. Istanbul anyone!

Panama City offers a cosmopolitan urban lifestyle with soaring towers with all amenities found in North America but at a much lower cost-of-living.

Located in the heart of the capital city is Casco Viejo, the “old city” that has been restored and serves now as the entertainment heartbeat of Panama. Hundreds of restaurants offering every type of food taste, boutique hotels, and cultural activities can be found in this cobblestoned corner of the city. Tasting menus from Michelin Starred chefs go for $75 as opposed to $425 per person.

Panama isn’t just the safest country in Latin America it’s much safer than many US cities. Since Panama is a de facto protectorate of the United States they do not have a standing army, but they have invested heavily in the local police who maintain a visible presence.

Panama offers unmatched tourism opportunities which are easily accessible within a few hours. Scuba dive in the Atlantic/Caribbean in the morning and enjoy a cocktail overlooking the Pacific in the afternoon on the same day. Hike up an inactive volcano, visit a rainforest with more bird species than what is found in the US and Canada combined, fish for marlin and tuna where more records have been set than any place on the globe.

Enjoy the best coffee in the world. Juan Valdez has nothing on the Geisha coffee grown in the highlands of Panama and sold worldwide for as much as $1,000 a pound. Don’t forget the chocolate which also ranks as some of the world’s best.

Panama has the only metro/subway in Central America paired with an extensive bus system that virtually eliminates the need for a vehicle. If inexpensive mass ($0.35 per trip) public transportation isn’t your style think Uber Helicopters, black cars or $3 taxi rides.

Individual taxes are around 7% and there is no taxation at all on money earned outside Panama. So, if you are a digital nomad working from the beach, take advantage of the high-speed internet and advantageous business initiatives!

Permanent residency can be obtained in 30-days with a $300,000 real estate investment or up to $750,000 in the stock market or certificate of deposit.

Panama has one of the most stable governments in Central and Latin America. The president is elected every five years and can only serve for one term. Both the time allowed to campaign and the money spent is limited by law.

College and university training, for both Panamanians and foreigners, is essentially provided without cost. Some annual expenses can run as much as $1,000 for very specialized programs.

Panama offers the gold-standard in “pensionado” programs providing discounts on everything from restaurant meals to medical care, flights, utility bills, and transportation.

Medical care is Joint Commissioned approved, the highest standard found in the United States and worldwide, but it comes at a fraction of the cost. Innovative stem cell research, dental and vision procedures along with ex-pat packages for surgeries such as hip and knee replacements are sometimes 90% less expensive. Physicians are mostly English speaking and trained in the United States, Canada, and Great Britain. Pharmaceuticals, from the same manufacturing plants, are offered for pennies on the dollar.

Panama is home to the 12 facilities of the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute where scholars and researchers from around the world come to study. Their programs and offerings enrich local and visiting children and adults with hands-on experiences.